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June 24, 2008

Video Hangover: Skee-Lo - "I Wish"

Every week, we dig in the archives for videos that we find noteworthy, memorable, or just unbelievably stupid. And then, Jon McMillan breaks 'em down for you. Why Video Hangover? Because when you watch as many videos as we do, you're going to feel it afterwards.

"I Wish"
Skee-Lo, 1995

Somewhere there's a sample of a tiny violin, and it plays for Skee-Lo.

My favorite thing about "I Wish" is Skee-Lo's pathetic assortment of non-authentic basketball outfits. Aside from the one Chris Webber throwback, he only has two choices: gray and sky blue. I can't tell whether he's deliberately humiliating himself with the Dick's Sporting Goods look, or if he literally couldn't afford to buy official NBA gear. You'd think the sample alone would be worth more than just one vintage Larry Bird jersey, but apparently all the could afford was a tepid Forrest Gump knockoff. Really, though, Skee-Lo would probably be better off if he STOPPED BITCHING ABOUT HIS HATCHBACK AND SPENT MORE TIME WORKING ON HIS GAME. Seriously, he sucks. No handle, no hops. Zero creativity around the basket. At 2:32 he even uses his feet! Right now, Spud Webb is sitting in his tiny dunk palace, shaking his comically undersized head and thinking about how the vertically challenged ballers of today just don't get it and probably never will.

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Posted at 1:30 PM by Jon in ,
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26 Comments

This used to be my favorite song when I was like 12. I remember walking laps around the track listening to this on my WALKMAN. Ughhhh haha

Posted by: Evan at 06/24/08 1:43 PM | Reply
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Wikipedia writers are just mean...unless this is true, in which case, it's pretty bleak.
"Skee-Lo currently spends his time working at the local foot locker repairing shoes and shoe laces while also spittin at the local county fairs around Los Angeles."

Posted by: Stephen B at 06/24/08 1:44 PM | Reply
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i guess there's a reason i've never heard this song.

Posted by: same day **444 at 06/24/08 2:02 PM | Reply
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BEST SONG OF ALL TIME.


NOT. JOKING.

Posted by: ben at 06/24/08 2:28 PM | Reply
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Mark

Isn't this the dude from Gnarls Barkley?

Posted by: Mark profile link at 06/24/08 2:31 PM | Reply
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B

I can't tell you how many times I've asked this question. No.

Posted by: B profile link in reply to Mark's comment at 06/24/08 7:03 PM | Reply
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This song is still hot 13 years later.

Posted by: james at 06/24/08 2:43 PM | Reply
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you're actually hating on this video? kill yourself.

Posted by: snarky mchumorless at 06/24/08 2:43 PM | Reply
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love this song and video. thanks for posting (had completely forgotten about it), even if it is just to slam on it.

Posted by: alex at 06/24/08 3:29 PM | Reply
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I love this song and I always will!

Posted by: Ana at 06/24/08 3:32 PM | Reply
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A lot of modern rapers can learn from Skee-lo. Its call honesty, and being truthful and making it hot is always cooler than trying to be something you're not.

Posted by: eric at 06/24/08 4:31 PM | Reply
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i dont think rapers will learn anything from skee-lo. now modern rappers... maybe :)

Posted by: not a raper in reply to eric's comment at 06/25/08 3:03 PM | Reply
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Hey Soulja Boy, sit down here, watch this, and learn something.

Posted by: Tim at 06/24/08 4:37 PM | Reply
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Making fun of this video is just ridiculous. Seriously, I agree with the kill yourself line. Do you guys not know how to be fun anymore. Fuck you stereogum.

Posted by: Ashley at 06/24/08 4:40 PM | Reply
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Rapers? Rapper or rapists, pick one.

Posted by: Roger Wilco at 06/24/08 4:54 PM | Reply
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Aren't they one in the same thing?

Posted by: eric in reply to Roger Wilco's comment at 06/24/08 5:10 PM | Reply
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"Mister Morton is the subject of the sentence, and what the predicate says, he does."

Posted by: tk. profile link at 06/24/08 5:12 PM | Reply
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Skee-lo came to my middle school in 7th grade (long time ago) for some anti drug club. I didn't think he was cool until he got on to MTV with this song and looking back I should have stuck with my first impression not the awe struck MTV version. haha

Posted by: yom at 06/24/08 6:49 PM | Reply
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I'm ready to hit the rollerskate ring!

Get the disco ball and strobe lights going!

Posted by: Warren J at 06/24/08 6:51 PM | Reply
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B

NOOOO!!! I love this song. Stick to the Crazy Towns, stereogum, Skee-Lo is awesome. And if he really does work at Foot Locker? Even more awesome.

Posted by: B profile link at 06/24/08 7:03 PM | Reply
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Totally off the subject but I am looking for an older music video from a euro techno/be-box crew. All I know is that the video was playing on MTV euro btw 2000-2002 and it was a young group of guys that started in a subway; one guy had a remote control and could control anyone in the video; pausing them; rewinding them. There were break dancers in it and the guy with the remote control had dreadlocks.....can anyone help me out?

Posted by: SNEEKLE at 06/24/08 8:38 PM | Reply
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SNEEKLE that song is "Freestyler" by Finland's Bomfunk MC's

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freestyler_(song)

For some reason that song was number 1 for ages here in Australia back in the day :S

Posted by: Jono in reply to SNEEKLE's comment at 06/25/08 3:27 AM | Reply
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the song was called "freestyler" i think yeh? mmmm can't think of the groups name tho' - but i remember that song/video so well!

Posted by: steve in reply to SNEEKLE's comment at 06/25/08 4:22 AM | Reply
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Seriously, I still rap this song every now and then. It's so damn catchy.

Posted by: mitchell at 06/24/08 8:46 PM | Reply
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When that guy depantses Skee-Lo at the end is awesome.

Posted by: msg6v profile link at 06/25/08 9:50 AM | Reply
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Ya'll are so painfully white.

Posted by: China at 07/22/08 10:44 PM | Reply
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